Soaring foodbank use shames Scotland
Scottish Greens parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone has said a new report which reveals soaring foodbank use in Scotland is a source of shame for the country.
New research by a Menu for Change and the Independent Food Aid Network has revealed claims for emergency food from Trussell Trust and independent food banks has increased by 22% over an 18 month period.
Responding, Alison Johnstone said:
“This meteoric rise in the need for emergency food in Scotland must be a source of great shame for this wealthy, food-rich country. In just 18 months, food bank use has increased by more than a fifth, which is completely unacceptable in the 21st century.
“There is no doubt that food insecurity comes from income insecurity. There’s more than enough food, but people don’t have enough money to buy it. That’s why the Scottish Greens demand a welfare system and employment laws based on dignity and human rights. That means the Scottish Government must recognise the current approach is not working and embed the right to food into law as was promised in the Good Food Nation Bill proposals.
“This is also time to improve our safety net, and I’d encourage government to look at progressing the trials of a universal basic income.”